Removable closure

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus having a plurality of independent closure members such as wall panels, screens, partitions, etc. supported on moveable carriages. The carriages are equipped with spring loaded caster members for permitting smooth, translational movement along a trackless floor surface. The caster members on each of the respective carriages are further mechanically linked for synchronized turning. A ceiling guide rail is engageable by two members extending upwardly from the carriage and guide the movement of the closure members from a storage position into a pre-arranged pattern whereby the closure members are aligned in a vertical edge abutting interlocked closure position. One of the members engaging the ceiling guide rail is adapted for selective retraction and another of said members is adapted for continuous engagement within the ceiling guide rail and additionally has floor contacting shoe member which is slidably received within a guide channel located in the storage area. Upon disengagement of the retractable member from the ceiling guide rail, the closure member may be pivoted and turned about the other rail engaged member and slid into a vertically stacked confronting face to back storage position.

nited States Patent Schacht [4 1 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] REMOVABLE CLOSURE 72 Inventor: Louis L. Schacht, 205 East 63rd Street, [57] ABSTRACT New York, NY. 10021 The invention relates to an apparatus having a plurality of independent closure members such as wall panels, screens, par- [22] F 116d 1970 titions, etc. supported on moveable carriages. The carriages [21] Appl.No.: 89,276 are equipped with spring loaded caster members for permitting smooth, translational movement along a trackless floor surface. The caster members on each of the respective [52] U.S.Cl carriages are further mechanically linked for Synchronized [51] i Cl 127 103 turning. A ceiling guide rail is engageable by two members ex- [58] Field ofSearc I tending upwardly from the carriage and guide the movement 49/104 160/ d of the closure members from a storage position into a pre-arranged pattern whereby the closure members are aligned in a vertical ed e abuttin interlocked closure osition. One of the 56 References Cited g g P l 1 members engaging the ceiling guide rail is adapted for selec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tive retraction and another of said members is adapted for continuous engagement within the ceilmg guide rail and addi- NOI'IOH X tionany has floor ontacting hoe member is 2,052,089 8/1936 Fairhursl received within a guide channel located in the storage area. 2,657,436 1 1/1953 Fail'hufst et a] -49/127 X Upon disengagement of the retractable member from the ceil- 3,298,423 1/1967 Carter ..160/97 ihg guide rail the closure member may be pivoted and turned 3,354,581 11/1967 Dimmltt et a1 ..49/141 about the other rail engaged member and slid into a vertically stacked confronting face to back storage position. Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell I Attorney-Natter, Wigman & Natter 10 Charms, 7 Drawing Figures ,IO 12' 12 l6 |2 |2 70 I2 24 L r 24" r I r r a .r s

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INVENTOR LOUIS L. SCHACHT BY m 4* ATTORNEYS REMOVABLE CLOSURE 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to removable closures. In particular, the apparatus of this invention is directed to a system of independent closure members mounted for translational movement along a trackless floor surface. This system is especially applicable for enclosing large areaways such as entrances to commercial building establishments.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various methods are presently employed for providing temporary or removable closures, barriers, screens, etc. which are used to sub-divide rooms, seal entrances or exits, channel egress or ingress through or out of confined areas, etc. Most of the conventional removable closure systems employ folding walls or partitions which continuously engage and are guided by overhead or ceiling tracks and bottom rails or floor tracks. The individual closure members are usually joined or hinged together along a common vertical edge and adapted to be folded in accordion fashion. The ceiling and floor tracks or rails etc. commonly conform to a desired closure and storage pattern. Another system provides for the removal of the closure panels from the floor track so as to permit rotation of the panel about a vertical axis and placement in a storage area. A further closure system of the prior art suspends or hangs panels from an overhead track and uses a pulley arrangement to position the panels across an opening. This system quite frequently does not compensate for floor surfaces that are not perfectly horizontal, and consequently undesirable spaces develop between the bottom of the closure panels and the floor surface. With respect to the previously described systems, the use of a floor track as such is a distinct disadvantage and presents a constant maintenance problem as well as a potentially hazardous condition. This will be especially apparent when the removable closure is employed as a barrier to close entranceways or areas in which there is particularly heavy pedestrian traffic, e.g. the entrances to business establishments or stores such as those located in shopping malls. In such instances, it has been found that at the end of the business day an accumulation of dirt or other foreign matter becomes deposited and lodged within the floor track, especially if there is a recessed or grooved portion, and consequently inhibits or substantially impedes the movement of a lower track engaging member and the panel closure. In some cases it is necessary that the foreign deposits be removed prior to moving the panel closures; this is a distinct inconvenience and time-consuming operation. Furthermore, the presence of a floor track which is usually steel or other metal presents a surface within the entranceway floor which may create an obstruction or otherwise interfere with automated floor sweepers, waxers, etc. The track surface will also become slippery in wet weather, and therefore special attention will be required to ameliorate these conditions. From the foregoing, it should be evident that a removable closure which does not have a floor track would be particularly advantageous and accordingly the instant invention completely eliminates this track.

A feature of this invention is the fact that the individual closure members, such as panels or partitions, are supported on moveable carriages which bear on the floor surface and conform to the surface deviations, in contrast to those systems suspended from ceiling tracks which must carry the hung weight of the closure members. Furthermore, with the suspended system previously described, it is difficult to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface or deviations from a true horizontal surface; consequently, the bottom edge of the hung closure members frequently do not fit uniformly or flush against the floor surface.

Another feature of this invention over the prior art is the fact that the closure members are seperable and independent from each other rather than being hinged along a common edge as in accordion type partitions. This will permit rotation of each of the individual members about a vertical axis, so that each may be swung around and slid into a stacked confronting face to back position in a storage area and will consequently occupy less space than comparable hinged panels. The closure members are also provided with interlocking means along the vertical edges which are adapted to secure adjacent closure members in an edge abutting interlocked closure relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The removable closure apparatus is basically comprised of a plurality of independent closure members such as wall panels, partitions, screens, etc., each of the closure members being supported for movement by means of respective carriage members. The carriage members ride on a plurality of spring loaded caster members adapted for translational movement along a floor surface. The individual closure members are guided for movement between a stacked confronting face to back position in a storage area and a vertical edge abutting interlocked closure position, such as across an areaway. Each of the carriage members include rail engaging members which extend upwardly through respective spaced parallel vertical frame members or stiles and are received within a ceiling guide rail. The caster members are rotatably mounted to the carriage member and the several caster members on each carriage are mechanically linked for simultaneous turning. One of the guide rail engaging members comprises a latch rod mounted within the frame member for slidable displacement with one end thereof being selectively engageable in the guide rail. The other member has an upper end continuously engaged within the guide rail and an opposed lower end provided with a shoe member which slidably contacts the floor surface. The continuously engaged member acts as a pivot axis when the latch rod is disengaged from the ceiling rail and the closure member may thereby be rotated about the axis and slid into the storage area. In order to facilitate sliding into the storage area and to stabilize the vertical pivot axis when rotating the closure member, a shoe engaging guide channel is provided within the storage area.

It is an object therefore of this invention to provide a removable closure apparatus of the general character described herein.

Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a trackless removable closure apparatus having independent closure members supported by moveable carriage members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a removable closure wherein the carriage members have a plurality of spring loaded caster members and each of several caster members on the respective carriages are mechanically linked for simultaneous turning.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a removable closure apparatus wherein a ceiling rail is provided for guiding the closure members from a storage position to a closure position.

Another object of this invention is to provide ceiling rail engaging means extending from the carriage member for aligning the several closure members.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for disengaging at least one of said ceiling rail engaging means to permit rotation of said closure members and the positioning of same in a storage position.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which are shown some of the various embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view somewhat schematic, of the removable closure apparatus of this invention showing a plurality of carriage members having glass panel closure members; some of the closure members are shown in a stacked confronting face to back storage position and some are shown in a vertical edge abutting interlocked closure position and one closure member is in an intermediary position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and shows a ceiling guide rail and a rail engaging member;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary auxiliary view with a portion broken away and to an enlarged scale, showing a part of the closure member and a latch rod selectively engaged within the ceiling rail, the broken line view illustrating the retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an auxiliary sectional view taken along line 44 showing the closure members in the aligned closure position and in the stacked storage position;

FIG. 5 is a partial auxiliary view to an enlarged scale and shows a plurality of caster members mounted on the carriage member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5 and shows the carriage member and the caster member rotatably mounted thereto; and

FIG. 7 is a partial auxiliary view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5 and shows linkage means and an associated control member for limiting rotational movement of the caster members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 denotes generally the preferred embodiment of the removable closure apparatus of this invention. The apparatus 10 is comprised of a plurality of separable and independent closure members 12. The closure members 12 are typical in construction, and generally comprise a frame means 14 for securing panels 16 and 17 to a moveable support means or carriage member 18. The closure member 12 is adapted for translational movement along a trackless floor surface and is conveyed by the carriage member 18, from an inoperative vertical stacked position to an aligned vertical edge abutting operative closure position such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The framing means 14 previously mentioned is comprised of two vertical hollow upstanding frame members or stiles 20 and 22 which are mounted to the carriage member 18, and interconnected by horizontal cross members such as top rail 24, middle rail 26 and bottom rail 28. A modified closure member 12 does not have a middle rail 26 and as shown in FIG. 1 employs a door panel 25 and filler or dead panels 27. The stiles 20 and 22, and the middle rails 26 may be appropriately joined together at their points of contact by welding or other conventional means and are further provided with a groove or recessed inner edge for accommodating and holding the panels 16 and 17. The panels 16 and 17 are preferably made of glass; however, other material, e.g. plywood, fiberboard, etc. may be used. It should of course be obvious that when the removable closure 10 is being used for closing the entranceway to a store, the panels 16 and 17 should preferably be made of a transparent material to permit display of the goods within the store. The carriage member 18 stiles 20 and 22, and rails 24, 26 and 28 are preferably fabricated from aluminum, although stainless steel or other stock material may be used.

The carriage member 18 which will now be described in greater detail, particularly with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is comprised of a skirt portion 30 having an upper flange 32 and a lower flange 34 in parallel relationship to each other. The upper flange 32 supports the bottom rail 28 and the two stiles 20 and 22 which may be welded or otherwise joined to this upper flange member 32. The carriage member 18 is supported for translational movement by means of caster members 36 which have a stem portion 38 journalled through registered apertures 40 and 42 provided through the upper and lower flanges. A wheel 44 mounted within a yoke 46 fixed to one end of the stem portion 38 is adapted for rotational movement about a horizontal axle 48. Additionally, a spring 50, preferably a compression coil spring, is provided around the stem portion 38 and between the yoke 46 and the lower flange 34. The purpose for this spring 50 is to permit vertical displacement of the caster member 36 to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface and deviations from a true horizontal plane; and will accordingly insure that there is an equal weight distribution on the plurality of casters 36 affixed to each carriage member and that the closure member 12 will remain uniformly spaced with respect to the floor surface 15. In order to facilitate freedom for vertical and rotational movement of the stem portion 38, bushings 52 and 54 are provided within the respective registered apertures 40 and 42. The bushings 52 and 54 typically may be a snap fitting type and made of plastic. The caster members 36 are provided with wheels 44 made preferably of a durable hard rubber or plastic material and are designed to operate on the floor 15 without damaging the surface. No floor track or other floor guiding means within the entranceway is necessary.

In order to insure that each of the caster members 36 and associated wheels 44 will simultaneously rotate about the vertical axis passing through the stem portion 38, each of the caster members 36 are mechanically linked together by means of a tie bar 56 which is linearly displaceable in response to the rotational movement of the stem portion 38. An offset member or arm 58 is securely fastened as by welding to the stem portion 38 and will rotate with the stem portion 38. The arm 58 is further provided with a connecting pin 60 which is in communication with the tie bar 56 and may pass through an opening 62 in the tie bar 56 to form a pivotal connection for transmitting the curvilinear movement of the arm 58 to the tie bar 56. The tie bar 56 also contains a guide pin 64 passing through a curved slot 66 in a control plate 68 secured or otherwise afflxed to the carriage member 18.

When a force is exerted on the closure member 12, particularly a force perpendicular to the vertical plane and necessary to rotate the closure member 12 into the storage area, all the caster members 36 will rotate about the stem portion 38 and simultaneously turn all of the respective wheels 44. The curved slot 66 in the control plate 68 will govern the extent to which the caster members 36 rotate and accordingly can be adjusted to suit a desired rotational displacement required.

The closure member 12 is guided for movement between the stacked position and operative closure position across an exposed areaway by means of a guide rail 70 preferably recessed within a ceiling 71, and two guide rail engaging alignment members 72 and 74 extending from within the closure member 12, One of said alignment members 74 is comprised of a pivot shaft 76 extending through the vertical frame or stile 22 and carriage member 18. The shaft 76 is positioned and held by means of a plurality of brackets 77. The lower end of the shaft 76 is provided with a shoe member 78 in sliding contact with the floor surface 15. The upper end of the pivot shaft 76 is provided with a rotatable collar 79 preferably lined inside and outside with a self-lubricating material such as nylon or carbon impregnated plastic to permit the collar 79 to spin or rotate around shaft 76 and as shown in FIG. 2 the collar 79 is designed for accommodation within the guide rail member 70.

The guide rail member 70 is comprised of two sets of complementary angle members 80, 82, and 80, 82', and are recessed in the ceiling and separated by means of spacer 84 to form a track 86.

The shoe member 78 located at the lower end of the pivot shaft 76 is provided with a slotted sleeve 88 engageable over the pivot shaft 76. A protuberance 90 extending from the shaft will project into the slotted sleeve as shown in FIG. 5 and will thereby permit a limited degree of rotation for the shoe member 78, the purpose for which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The other of said alignment members 72 is comprised of a latch rod 92 which extends upwardly for selective engagement within the guide rail 70 and is similarly provided with a rotatable collar 94 also preferably lined both inside and outside with a self-lubricating material such as nylon or carbon impregnated plastic to permit the collar 94 to spin or rotate around the rod 92 as well as to slide within track 86 as shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of the latch rod 92 is slidably mounted by means of brackets 93 within the vertical frame member or stile 20 and adapted to be moved in a vertical plane by a pivotal operating latch bar 96 connected to the lower end of the latch rod 92 and pivotally mounted to the stile 20. The operating latch bar 96 for security purposes, should be accessible from only one side of the closure member, i.e. the inside or back of the member.

Restraining means may be provided to lock the operating latch bar and secure the latch rod in engagement. Typically, a catch 98 pivotally mounted to the middle rail 26 or stile 20 can be arranged to selectively abut against or be slipped over the free end of the operating latch bar 96 to hold same in a fixed position.

The closure members 12 are designed to move along the floor surface 15 and into an aligned vertical edge abutting relationship when guided by engaged latch rod 92 and pivot shaft 76 as shown in FIG. 1. The closure members 12 may be pivotally moved about pivot shaft 76 and stacked within a storage area 102 or correspondingly removed from the storage area 102 when latch rod 92 is disengaged from the ceiling guide rails 70 as illustrated by the broken line view in FIG. 3. An angle or stop member 104 extends downwardly from the ceiling guide rail 70 and will limit rotation of the closure member 12 and register the latch rod 92 within the guide rail 70 when the member 12 is swung into the operative position.

In order to stabilize the closure members 12 when turning and sliding in the storage area 102, the shoe member 78 is adapted to be engaged within a floor guide channel 106 located behind area enclosure 108 illustrated in FIG. 4. It should be carefully noted that channel 106 is unexposed and does not extend onto the traversable floor surface 15.

As previously noted, the shoe member 78 is mounted to the pivot shaft 76 with a slotted sleeve 88 to permit slight rotational movement of the shoe member 78. This is necessary in order to properly align the shoe member 78 within the floor guide channel 106. It should be noted that a leg 108 of channel 106 extends further than a leg 110 and is curved slightly to engage the shoe member 78 and gently guide same into position between the two legs 108 and 110. The broken line view of the shoe member 78 (FIG. 4) shows one of the positions which may be assumed by the shoe member 78 as the member 12 is guided along the floor 15, and the solid line view shows properly aligned position of shoe member 78 when the closure members 12 are stacked vertically and in juxtaposition. Once the shoe member 78 is engaged between the legs 108 and 110, the latch rod 92 can be disengaged from the guide rail 70 and the closure member 12 may be rotated or pivoted about the pivot shaft 76 and slid into the vertical stacked position. It should be noted that the shoe member 78 extends on all sides slightly beyond the periphery of the closure member 12 and will act to prevent damaging contact between adjacent members when in the stored position. Additionally, the upper flange 32 and lower flange 34 have one corner beveled as at 35 to facilitate turning and to insure proper clearance within the storage area 102.

The vertical frame members or stiles 20 and 22 are further designed with protruding bumper elements 112 and 114. These bumper elements 112 and 114 are designed for interlocking engagement when the closure members 12 are in the aligned operative closure position as shown in FIG. 4. The bumper elements 112 and 114 are preferably made of a resilient durable material of rubber or plastic composition. It should be apparent that the plurality of so interlocked closure members 12 extending between a ceiling 71 and floor surface 15, will when the latch rods 92 are locked, present a barrier to unauthorized entry.

The door 25 previously mentioned as an optional closure member 12' is used to provide egress or ingress into or out of the enclosed area when the closure members 12 are interlocked. The door 25 will also be the outside or last member to be stacked and is made of an opaque material such as aluminum to appropriately screen the closure members 12 in the storage area 102.

It should be noted that the above cited embodiments are intended as exemplary and while they have described the invention with specific implementation thereof, other modifications and changes might be made in the embodiment so set forth and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, it should be understood that all material herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A removable closure apparatus comprising a plurality of independent closure members adapted for vertical face to back stacking in a storage area, conveyance means for transporting the closure members across a trackless floor surface to a vertical edge abutting closure position, alignment means ex tendable from the closure member, and guide rail means engageable by the alignment means for guiding the movement of the closure members to and from the storage area and opera tive closure position.

2. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alignment means comprises a first elongated pivot member having an upper end in continuous engagement within the guide rail means and a lower end in slidable contact with the floor surface, a second elongated slidably displaceable member having an upper end selectively engageable within the guide rail means whereby the second elongated member may be retracted from the guide rail means and the closure member rotated about the elongated pivot member for movement into and out of the storage area.

3. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising guide channel means within the storage area, said channel means being engageable by the lower end of the elongated pivot member during movement into and out of the storage area.

4. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a shoe member mounted to the lower end of the elongated pivot member, said shoe member being slidably accommodated within the guide channel.

5. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including locking means for holding the elongated displaceable member engaged within the guide rail means during movement across the floor surface.

6. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyance means comprises a carriage member including a plurality of wheel means adapted for operation on a trackless floor surface.

7. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further including spring means for resiliently urging the wheel means into contact with the floor surface to provide vertical compensating displacement of the closure members in response to deviations in the floor surface.

8. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the wheel means comprise caster members mechanically linked for synchronized turning about a vertical axis.

9. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including complementary interlocking means along confronting vertical edge abutting surfaces of the closure members.

10. A removable closure adapted for movement along a trackless floor surface comprising a plurality of carriage means supporting closure members for movement over a trackless floor surface, a guide rail spaced from said carriage means, alignment means cooperating with said guide rail for directing movement of the carriage means between a storage position and an operative closure position, said alignment means including a pivot member mounted to the carriage means and engageable in the guide rail and slidable latch means mounted to the carriage means and selectively engageable in the guide rail whereby the slidable latch means may be disengaged from the guide rail, and the carriage means and closure member rotated about the pivot means for movement into and out of the storage area. 

1. A removable closure apparatus comprising a plurality of independent closure members adapted for vertical face to back stacking in a storage area, conveyance means for transporting the closure members across a trackless floor surface to a vertical edge abutting closure position, alignment means extendable from the closure member, and guide rail means engageable by the alignment means for guiding the movement of the closure members to and from the storage area and operative closure position.
 2. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alignment means comprises a first elongated pivot member having an upper end in continuous engagement within the guide rail means and a lower end in slidable contact with the floor surface, a second elongated slidably displaceable member having an upper end selectively engageable within the guide rail means whereby the second elongated member may be retracted from the guide rail means and the closure member rotated about the elongated pivot member for movement into and out of the storage area.
 3. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising guide channel means within the storage area, said channel means being engageable by the lower end of the elongated pivot member during movement into and out of the storage area.
 4. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a shoe member mounted to the lower end of the elongated pivot member, said shoe member being slidably accommodated within the guide channel.
 5. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including locking means for holding the elongated displaceable member engaged within the guide rail means during movement across the floor surface.
 6. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyance means comprises a carriage member including a plurality of wheel means adapted for operation on a trackless floor surface.
 7. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further including spring means for resiliently urging the wheel means into contact with the floor surface to provide vertical compensating displacement of the closure members in response to deviations in the floor surface.
 8. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the wheel means comprise caster members mechanically linked for synchronized turning about a vertical axis.
 9. A removable closure apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including complementary interlocking means along confronting vertical edge abutting surfaces of the closure members.
 10. A removable closure adapted for movement along a trackless floor surface comprising a plurality of carriage means supporting closure members for movement over a trackless floor surface, a guide rail spaced from said carriage means, alignment means cooperating with said guide rail for directing movement of the carriage means between a storage position and an operative closure position, said alignment means including a pivot member mounted to the carriage means and engageable in the guide rail and slidable latch means mounted to the carriage means and selectively engageable in the guide rail whereby the slidable latch means may be disengaged from the guide rail, and the carriage means and closure member rotated about the pivot means for movement into and out of the storage area. 